How four innovators use nature as inspiration
When the Earth is the focal point of your work, it’s inevitable that the subtle details and nuances of the planet will make their way into your research and influence the direction of the outcome.
Nature influences science in myriad different ways, from a plant’s barb leading to the creation of Velcro, to a bird’s wings inspiring the design of the airplane.
Nature has proven time and time again to be the gold standard in innovation, allowing engineers, designers and researchers to bypass the roadblocks in their way and create something that’s extraordinary in its ties to the natural world.
The light of the sun
Linnea Wolfe, Urban Cultivator (Vancouver)
Not everyone is lucky enough to live in an area where farmers’ markets happen every weekend, and — even if you do — they’re not going to have everything you want all year long. Linnea and Tarren Wolfe realized this long ago and invented the Urban Cultivator to tackle the limitations some people have while growing food.
Think of it as a cross between a refrigerator and a greenhouse; it’s an indoor garden appliance that produces an environment as close to the natural world as possible to grow fresh produce without the use of sprays or fertilizers.
The secret is the lighting — something called a T5 light that emulates the natural full spectrum of sunlight. In one month, the amount of produce grown in the Urban Cultivator equates to roughly $400. That’s a lot of greens grown and a lot of green saved.
The power of earthquakes
Richard Frazao, Quaketek (Quebec)
Richard Frazao has learned how to embrace the awesome power of earthquakes in an attempt to better understand these natural phenomena and keep buildings from falling down.
Quaketek designs, manufactures and install seismic dampers in buildings that keep them free from harm during earthquakes, in addition to a number of options for a multitude of different buildings. Alongside pulling inspiration from earthquakes, Richard and his team look at how the California Redwood tree grows in an attempt to better understand how tall structures stay upright.
Their end goal is to make seismic protection technologies easy to use and understand while making them accessible to everyone.
The durability of wood
Rob Wrightman, True North Log Homes (Ontario)
When Ron and Rob Wrightman started True North Log Homes in 1986, they made a pledge to uphold the design of the original log cabin while making small improvements to keep their inhabitants safe.
These aren’t your grandfather’s log cabins — they’re warm, spacious and will keep you safe from the elements. The Wrightman’s patented Keylock Air Seal Corner is what makes these homes particularly unique; the construction method allows the team to bypass nails, screws or lag bolts when joining the pieces of wood together.
This system is the backbone of their 25-year “zero” air infiltration warranty, which promises protection against air leaks. Not only do these log homes protect people, but they help preserve the environment that surrounds them too. Their innovations have dramatically reduced the carbon footprint of their homes and kept the materials used to a minimum without sacrificing quality.
The resilience of bacteria
Patrick Kiely, Island Water Tech (Prince Edward Island)
For those with limited resources or in the throes of a natural disaster, water treatment options are few and far in between. Island Water tech developed a solar-powered wastewater infrastructure that’s self-powered, self-controlled and monitored by — wait for it — microbes.
The advanced septic system uses the power and resilience of microbes to both clean and monitor the water within. Electrically-active bacteria acts like a miniature army within the infrastructure, simultaneously cleaning the water and allowing scientists to monitor the microbes in the wastewater remotely.
Their specialized method makes Island Water tech 90 percent more successful than current methods and only operates at one-tenth of the energy.
